Wounded Warrior visits Dighton Middle School

Dighton’s Greg Reynolds does not back down from the challenges life throws at him.

Reynolds — a combat veteran who served in Iraq before returning home and surviving a near-fatal motorcycle crash — told his story of overcoming adversity on Friday in an assembly at the school he once attended as a boy.

Dighton’s Greg Reynolds does not back down from the challenges life throws at him.

Reynolds — a combat veteran who served in Iraq before returning home and surviving a near-fatal motorcycle crash — told his story of overcoming adversity on Friday in an assembly at the school he once attended as a boy. Reynolds, who lost his arm because of the crash but has nevertheless become active in athletics, stressed to Dighton Middle School students that they can accomplish difficult goals with three characteristics: Commitment, determination and perseverance.

“The only limitations you have are the ones you make, and I don’t make any,” Reynolds said. “You can accomplish any goals with commitment, determination and perseverance. With these three things you can do anything.”

Reynolds told his story about serving in Iraq during the initial invasion, before returning in 2004. But it was at home where he was severely injured, in a motorcycle crash on June 22, 2008, which he barely survived. In the aftermath, he had to have his arm amputated.

After coming out of a coma and recovering, Reynolds participated in rehabilitative sports through the U.S. Veterans Administration’s adaptive sports clinic, and has since joined the Wounded Warrior Amputee Softball Team.

Reynolds showed the students a slideshow about his life and videos about his participation in sports, including a trip to Indianapolis at the time of Super Bowl XLVI, where he competed in a flag football game with retired NFL players. One video showed how Reynolds was able to master the art of fielding a softball and throwing it with one hand — by tossing the ball into the air, dropping the glove, grabbing the ball again and throwing it.

At the end of his presentation, Reynolds got some students together, and challenged them to outlast him at one-armed push-ups.

The assembly was part of a month of fundraising and awareness activities — dubbed the “These Are Our Heros” campaign — at Dighton Middle School for the Wounded Warrior Project. The Wounded Warrior Project is a non-profit organization that works to raise awareness and enlist public aid for the needs of severely injured service men and women.

During the assembly, the school presented Reynolds with a $5,700 check for the Wounded Warrior Project.

Reynolds also encouraged all the students to recruit members of the public to participate in a community blood drive that he now holds each year. This year, he said, it will take place on June 21 from 10 a.m. through 8 p.m. at the AMVETS Hall at 495 School St. in North Dighton.

Kevin Gousie, a physical education teacher at Dighton Middle, said it has been an honor to support wounded veterans like Reynolds.

“For a school of 400 to raise so much money in a short period of time is unbelievable,” Gousie said. “It’s incredible to have Greg here.”

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Reynolds said that he was fortunate to survive, and talked about how he started an organization called “Makin’ Lemons,” which is dedicated positive lifestyles and inspiring others.

“At this part of my life, I realize how lucky I am to have survived that near-death tragedy,” Reynolds said. “Admittedly, there are still some days that are a struggle to me. However, I try to make every day count, to be my best and to help inspire others to be their best.”